And don’t get me wrong. I like Kris Allen – although I like Adam Lambert more xD – but I just find the original dude’s voice more soulful. Sorry Kris. Thanks for bringing such a great song to my attention though I’ll have to check out the movie where this song came from too – “Once.”

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – Falling Slowly

I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can’t react
And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ve made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I’ll sing along

Anyways, my Champloo watching attempt #1 involved me skipping from episode 1 or 2 straight to the last episode because again, I thought this series was just going to end up being very repetitive (and again, too violent for my general tastes back then). I started on my Champloo attempt #2 recently and of course, completely reversed my opinion. I’m in the middle of indulging in massive adoration of this series right now. Just goes to show that there usually are very good reasons why popular shows are popular.

Samurai Champloo is really reminding me a lot of Cowboy Bebop right now in terms of edginess. The animation is really fluid (great action scenes) and a lot of fun to watch. The plot in each episode moves along at a nice flowing pace, putting the characters in contact with many different people and different scenarios. Also, Mugen and Jin as male leads aren’t archetypes of perfection or goodness… they have very human flaws, very different personalities and motivations – although they also have uber awesome fighting skills, of course, and have up to now generally ended up helping some good people and kicking some bad people ass. Which really reminds me a lot of Spike. But other little touches in Champloo – like the stills with different variations of the show’s title and random images in the middle of each episodes – again puts me in mind of Bebop, and I love it

The story so far is both sharp and also very witty. I really enjoyed how episode 5 worked in Van Gogh and a sketchy ukiyo-e artist in the most non-pretentious way imaginable. Which when I stop to think about it, is really quite an amazing feat. Episode 6 was another really memorable episode for me because of how many chuckles it got out from me. (“Eat!! Don’t you dare stop eating!!!”) The animation/character expressions were seriously amazing. The story again though – having the Fuu, Mugen and Jin meet up with a huge European gay man who came to Japan thinking it’d be heaven on earth because he read a Japanese book on male love? FTW. Themes like this make this series keep its edge. In fact, most of the characters introduced so far are involved in their own struggles of trying to fit into society, trying to establish themselves in the world. For this reason I believe this series will keep its relevance and speak to viewers for a long time to come.

I haven’t even gotten to the music yet. I’ve had many friends rave to me about Champloo’s music, including one co-worker who’s not really an anime person at all – but has for some reason picked up Champloo at some point and really loved it. The beat heavy hip-hop/lounge sounds fits the series so well. I’m also head over heels in love with the first ED – Minmi’s Shiki no Uta. I adore the lyrics as well

I’ll be traveling on my Thanksgiving break soon. I was hoping to get some walling in before I go, but now I’ll likely be marathoning through Champloo until I leave. I only wished I didn’t spoil the ending for myself during my Champoo watching attempt #1.

Just going  to close out with this interesting wiki tidbit: The word, champloo, comes from the Okinawan word “chanpurū” (as in gōyā chanpurū, the Okinawan stir-fry dish containing bitter melon). Chanpurū, alone, simply means “to mix” or “to hash.” Therefore, the title, Samurai Champloo, may be translated to “Samurai Remix” or “Samurai Mashup.”

Also at the top of the wiki entry it pointed out that the director for Samurai Champloo, Shinichirō Watanabe, also directed Cowboy Bebop. Doh, no wonder!

Jimmy Eat World – For Me This Is Heaven

The first star I see may not be a star.
We can’t do a thing but wait.
So let’s wait for one more.
The time such clumsy time in deciding if it’s time.
I’m careful but not sure how it goes.
You can loose yourself in your courage.
The mindless comfort grows when I’m alone with my ‘great’ plans.
This is what she says gets her through it:
“If I don’t let myself by happy now then when?”
If not now when?
When the time we have now ends.
When the big hand goes round again.
Can you still feel the butterflies?
Can you still hear the last goodnight?
Close my eyes and believe wherever you are, an angel for me.

- from azlyrics.com

Two days ago Ilaria Graziano’s “I Do” came up on my Pandora station and I found myself clinging it like second skin. I’ve loved this song ever since crap gave it to me, not only because it’s beautiful, but also because I thought Ilaria Graziano just sounded like an angel singing this song. Senior year in college whenever I got stressed I’d put on this song and another PlanetES song that crap gave me, and I’d immediately feel calmer and somehow soothed. Listening to “I Do” two days ago had the same effect on me if not more, just thinking about the lyrics and such… I’ve been looping it uncontrollably since. I ended up MySpace-stalking Ilaria yesterday, and I seriously hope that she does more collaborations with Yoko Kanno because that combination is just pure win.

*potential GITS 2nd GIG video spoiler*

Ilaria Graziano – I Do

nell’illusione ho creduto alla mia forza inesorabile
e inevitabilmente sono diventata debole
ora sento gli eventi si transformano e so già
di emozioni che aprono ricordi lontani

Deluded, I have believed in my unrelenting strength
And inevitably I have become weak
Now I feel events changing, and I already know
The emotions which unlock distant memories

nell’anima ritrovo la speranza che nel corpo stanco ormai
ha smesso di vibrare come un fuoco spento dal mio pianto
tra le mani un filo d’acqua porterò con me e
nel deserto un filo d’erba sopravviverà

From my soul I retrieve the hope which in my tired body now
Has stopped beating, like a fire quenched by my tears
In my hands I take with me a trickle of water
And in the desert a blade of grass will survive

i do, i do emergere dal fondo per lottare e poi
salire in alto più che mai
i do, i do guardare nel futuro e sorridere
senza temere nulla più

I do, I do emerge from the depths to fight and then
Go higher than ever before
I do, I do look to the future and smile
Not fearing anything anymore

in un instante nuove aspirazioni anche se davanti a me
si apre uno scenario di conquiste e smarrimenti,
nel silenzio, riflessi de epoche lasciate via
respirando ne avverto il moto circolare e poi…

In an instant, new aspirations are also ahead of me
A scenario of wins and losses unfolds
In the silence, the reflections of ages leave a path
Breathing, I notice the circular motion, and then…

il tempo si è fermato per tracciare nuovi confini, ed io
mi spingerò lontano raccogliendo le mie forze nel vento
tra le mani riflessi di epoche lasciate via
camminando ritrovo le tracce indelebili

Time has stopped to outline new borders, and I
Press further on, gathering my strength against the wind
In my hands, the reflections of ages leave a path
Walking, I retrieve the indelible trail

i do, i do gridare contro gli occhi spenti e gelidi
per essere sempre di più
i do, i do oltrepassare mondi inespugnabili
senza temere nulla più…
i do, i do emeregere dal fondo per lottare e poi
salire in alto più che mai
i do, i do guardare nel futuro e sorridere
con una nuova identità
fino a quando il sole sorgerà…………

I do, I do rail against the cold, extinguished eyes
To always be the best I can
I do, I do go beyond impregnable worlds
Not fearing anything anymore
I do, I do emerge from the depths to fight and then
Go higher than ever before
I do, I do look to the future and smile
With a new identity
Until only it rises…

- from LyricsAndSongs.com and AnimeLyrics.com

• Listen to Ilaria Graziano on MySpace

Blue songs are like tattoos
You know I’ve been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
Or let me sail away
Hey Blue, here is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well there’re so many sinking now
You’ve got to keep thinking
You can make it thru these waves…

…Blue here is a shell for you
Inside you’ll hear a sigh
A foggy lullaby
There is your song from me

- from jonimitchell.com